Novak Djokovic wins his first Olympic gold medal by defeating Carlos Alcaraz

In the match of the year, Novak Djokovic overcame Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-2) in an incredible performance that secured his first Olympic gold medal and completed a career Golden Slam.

He has already achieved the most weeks at the top of the rankings of any man or woman in his remarkable career, which has included a men's record 24 Grand Slam victories. Additionally, it already had a 2008 Summer Olympics medal inside of it, but he made it plain it wasn't good enough. It was a bronze.

It was Djokovic's third consecutive loss in that round of the Games until he defeated Italy's bronze medallist Lorenzo Musetti in the quarterfinals on Friday. All three times he lost against the eventual gold medallist, Andy Murray in London in 2012, Rafael Nadal in Beijing in 2008, and Alexander Zverev in Tokyo three years ago.

In Paris, with a gray sleeve to cover his injured right knee from a meniscus tear sustained two months prior, Djokovic took on Nadal in the second round and defeated his enduring foe in straight sets. As of right now, Djokovic is the oldest person to win the gold medal in his sport since 1908—and he kept 21-year-old Alcaraz of Spain from breaking the record.

Following the game, Djokovic fell on the ground. He had a towel covering his head and was sobbing and trembling. Leaping into the throng, he gave his family a hug. At last, he was radiant.

“Of course I’ve won everything there is to win probably in my individual career, but winning the Davis Cup, and particularly a golden medal for an Olympic Games for Serbia at the age of 37, is unprecedented,” he said.

"I put my heart, my soul, my body, my family -- my everything -- on the line to win Olympic gold," Djokovic said. "Incredible battle. Incredible fight."

Djokovic joins Steffi Graf, Rafael Nadal, Andre Agassi, and Serena Williams as the only players in history to complete the "Golden Slam" with the medal and his four major Grand Slam victories.

Although Djokovic's pursuit of gold is now accomplished, Alcaraz's silver signifies what lies ahead for the next big thing in tennis.

Since Djokovic took home a bronze in the 2008 Olympic singles competition, the 21-year-old is the youngest man to earn a medal in the sport.

“I am a little bit disappointed but I’m going to leave the court with my head high,” Alcaraz said. “I gave everything that I had. Fighting for Spain was everything for me. I’m proud of the way I played today.”

Alcaraz said losing how he did was “painful,” but that Djokovic played “great” and “deserved this.”

“In the difficult moments, he increased his level,” Alcaraz said. “He was unbelievable.”